Amano Amazon biotope pics...

[ChloroPhil]

Lake Tefe man..... There HAS to be someplace there where discus and plants live together. I can't see how it could be otherwise.

[ronrca]

Thanks guys for correcting me! At least I can rest now, knowing that the amazon biotope is possible to do! I was under the impression that it is like really ugly! Whew! Ralph? Do you have pics of your tank?

Neon colors and plastic tanks? Over my dead tank...I mean body! :P

[Ralph]

Phil, I'm still holding on to the hope that somewhere in the huge Amazon River Basin, there is a small clearwater lake (with discus) whose entire gravel bed is covered in various types of swords. milfoil, Java ferns, and sags (alright, the ferns might be a stretch). All the biotope interviews so far (including the upcoming on the Rio Nanay) say the same thing though - no aquatic plants. It is probably a combination of big changes in water level during the year, the acidity of the water (some areas equivalent to lemonade), the turbidity of the water (no light), and the ideal environment for nonaquatic plants (no need to evolve as an underwater plant). Realistically, the closest we will probably get to that is some emergent reeds or nonaquatic plants during inundation (I've heard that they keep their leaves).

Ron, I didn't say it wasn't ugly, I just said that I liked it. But don't go by me, I like algae! The fish are still adjusting so photos will be sometime next week. I forgot to mention, for ultimate realism, it has a bubbling plastic scuba diver.

[ChloroPhil]

Ralph,

After reading the biotope information in Christal Kasselmann's book "Aquarium Plants" (which you MUST get BTW), it seems that Echinodorus have found their niche in the areas most affected by seasonal flooding. I think it would be highly likely to find Discus and Angels among the flooded trees and swords during high water periods when the fish are migrating and spawning.

If I can wrangle enough money up I'm planning a 240-300g seasonal pool biotope for some Oscars. I don't see why you couldn't just substitute them with Discus. The trick would be the actual planting. The riverbank pictures I've seen show bands of Echinodorus feet thick in most places. It'll be hard finding a tank with enough size to have a number of large swords along the back wall. If you were able to make it Open Top the leaves should grow emersed, freeing up a lot of room.

[Ralph]

I really want to get that book, but the price! At some point, it will show up at a discount.

I had a paludium (is that the right spelling?) before I had discus. They still look strange to me (somehow they actually emphasize the tank itself) but I think it would make an interesting discus biotope. I was thinking maybe a wall of emergent reeds or swords along the back of the tank (like the vals in Ron's tank with the tree stump). And then put a tree stump (maybe also emerging!) in the front area. You would really see why young discus have those vertical stress bars.

Your oscar tank sounds amazing (my son keeps oscars), keep us updated, though it may be on the way to becoming another discus tank.

[ChloroPhil]

It's going to be a while before I get that tank Ralph. Though, once I'm done with it I'll be very versatile. Most of the tanks I've got to get now are going towards housing plants for my business. *sigh* I'm just not going to have the $$$ to spend on a large tank like that for some time. I can still plan though!

[Wahter]

The "Big Al's" store in Mississauga, Ontario (just outside Toronto) has a huge (looks like at least 400 gallons) open top tank with a sword plant that is about 4 feet tall. And they had some discus in the tank too.

BTW, we have the radican swords (e. cordifolius) (sp?) growing native in this area (North Carolina) - I've gone out to one of their natural habitats and collected some of them. They grow along the banks of the lake, with hairgrass and parrot's feather plants.

Maybe next time, I'll take some pictures and post them.

[Ralph]

Here is the photo you posted before Walter:



Is that Christal in the photo?
I remembered it because it was so amazing.

[Wahter]

Yes that is C. Kasselmann. There are a few pics of her on 'net (mostly in German). The sword plant at Big Al's is not that large though.

Also getting back to my comments about the Amano planted tanks - he often (but not always) has java fern (microsorum - from Asia) and bolbitis - from Africa in his discus tanks:

http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index...;threadid=3072

He even uses aponogeton (Madagascar lace) in the tank above. Definitely not plants true to discus' true biotope. Don't get me wrong though, I think Amano's tanks are excellent, but since the topic is "Amano Amazon biotope pics"...

[lcs]

I'm really liking all these ideas! I'm thinking there must be a happy medium between a dark water tank with no growing plants and a bunch of asian plants with a bubbling clam :-X :. (which I have hidden in a box somewhere!).

I think a tank with slightly darkened water (use peat?), driftwood to imitate tree stumps and verticle roots - maybe with java fern attached, and plants - large vals to continue the verticle theme and swords to provide a little brighter color. Maybe some smooth rocks of various sizes also. What do you think?

Ya gotta love an "aquatic" plant that grows to six feet out of the water! ;D Amazing.

Lisa

[Ralph]

Are you interested in selling the clam, Lisa? I'm in the market for one.

That's one of the things I like about having show tanks, all the options. And no matter which way you go, there is probably not another tank anywhere just like yours. With all the different kinds of fish, plants, driftwood, along with the various arrangements, there is an infinity of possibilities. And the discus make every tank look good. And if you don't like the way one turned out or you get tired of it, you can redo it if you want.

Walter, there was an interesting thread on the Aquabotanic forum about what makes a biotope, I think it was in the biotope section (Phil could direct you better). It turns out that there is a lot more to the issue than I ever imagined. You may have read it already.
I went ahead and found it:

http://www.aquabotanic.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=2523

Wow, Phil, you redid the forum, it looks great.

[ronrca]

You mean......Phil aka biotypical is the mod/operator of aquabotic!....... I didnt know that! That is cool! Im very impressed! VERY impressed! I have always envied that messageboard but am intimided by the knowledgable people. WOW! and now he's here, right here reading this post! :-[